1999

The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 10.1596 Thursday, 16 September 1999.
From: "Hole in the Wall Theater" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Tuesday, 14 Sep 1999 11:10:28 -0400
Subject: Ruthless! The Musical at Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall Theater of New Britain, Connecticut, first place winner
of The Hartford Advocate's Reader's Poll for "Best Place to See
Community Theater" for 1999, will open its 28th season with its
production of the hilarious "Ruthless! The Musical."
Opening on September 17 and running through October 16, 1999,
"Ruthless! The Musical" is the fast-paced and wickedly twisted musical
farce that won the 1993 New York Outer Circle Critics Award for best
musical and garnered five Drama Desk nominations, including winner for
outstanding lyrics. Eight-year-old Tina Denmark was born to play Pippi
Longstocking in a school production, and nothing will stand in her way,
not her mother, not her agent, not her teacher, not her critics, and
not, in the least, her competition, Louise Lerman. With music by Marvin
Laird and book and lyrics by Joel Paley, "Ruthless" is a consistently
hilarious parody with an ingenious plot, a sharp wit and a very talented
little girl. Come see this rare gem of a musical that carves its own
identity while poking fun at every stage mother and Broadway brat from
"Gypsy" to "The Bad Seed" and beyond.
Cast members are Heather Spiegel as Judy Denmark, the bland suburban
mother whose daughter Tina is hopelessly starstruck, much to her dismay,
and who later discovers a surprising secret about her own past. Alexis
Deprey portrays Tina Denmark, the little girl who will stop at nothing
to get what she wants as she tries to scrabble her way to the top in the
cruel world of show business. Scott William Auden portrays Sylvia St.
Croix, the agent who takes on young Tina as a client and harbors dark
secrets about her own past. Petie Ryzak portrays both Myrna Thorn, the
teacher who makes the lethal error of not casting Tina as Pippi
Longstocking, and Emily Block, a reporter from "Modern Thespian" trying
in vain to obtain an interview. Melanie Lastrina plays poor hapless
Louise Lerman, originally cast as Pippi Longstocking but never to
perform the role. Lita Encore, Judy Denmark's adoptive mother and a
brutal theater critic who enjoys the spotlight herself, is played by
Kathy Pelletier. Melinda Lane portrays Eve, the devoted personal
assistant to Broadway star Ginger DelMarco with theater aspirations of
her own and like everyone else, her own secrets to hide.
"Ruthless! The Musical" has its own web site that can be visited at
www.RuthlessMusical.com.
All performances begin at 8:00 p.m. at the theater's facility at 10
Harvard Street, New Britain, Connecticut. The theater opens to audience
members at 7:15 p.m. on show nights. Reservations are held only until
7:50 p.m. on performance nights.
Reservations are strongly recommended, and ticket information and
reservations can be made by calling the theater's reservation service at
(860) 229-3049.
Hole in the Wall operates, as it has for over 27 years, on a donation
basis. In order to meet production and facility costs, a donation of
$12.00 is suggested for straight plays and $15.00 for musicals, but a
lesser donation is always acceptable. Hole in the Wall firmly believes
that theater should be available to all viewers, regardless of ability
to pay.
Come visit Hole in the Wall at its award winning web site at
www.hitw.org and keep up with our current productions and future plans.